Free Igniting the Flame (Firebrand Series) by Sandra Robbins

go with you.”
    She put a hand on his chest and smiled. “Stay with your friends. I’ll call Richard to come get me.”
    He nodded. “We should only be a few more hours. Can I come by on my way home?”
    She smiled. “Please do. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
    He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll do it.” He turned back to Reese and Colt. “I’ll walk her out and wait until Richard gets here.”
    Reese and Colt rose and walked around the table to where Lainey stood. Reese extended his hand. “It was good to meet you, Lainey. Take care of this guy for me. He’s one of the best.”
    Lainey blinked tears from her eyes, and, ignoring his hand, reached up and gave him a hug. “I will, Reese. And be careful in South America.”
    Next to him Colt grinned at her. “Do I get a hug, too?”
    She laughed and reached out for him. “You do. Take care of yourselves, and let us hear from you when you get back to the states.”
    Ash touched her elbow, and as she glanced at him, she saw him slip his cell phone back in his pocket. “I called Richard. He’ll be here in a minute. I’ll wait with you at the front door.”
    He put his hand in the small of her back and guided her toward the restaurant entrance. They didn’t speak as they walked through the restaurant and out the front door. Once outside Lainey turned to Ash. “I like them.”
    He nodded. “They’re great guys.”
    The silence hung heavy between them, and Lainey clutched her purse tighter. “How long do you think you’ll be?”
    “Not long. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
    “Okay.”
    When he didn’t say anything else, she turned to him. “Ash, is something wrong? You seem like something’s on your mind.”
    He shook his head. “Just tired I guess.”
    She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “Please. . .”
    He stared down at her hand and then covered it with his. A sad smile pulled at his lips as he pressed her hand to his mouth and kissed her engagement ring finger. “I said I’m fine.”
    They stood without speaking until Richard drove up. Ash opened the door for her. She slipped into the car, and he reached around her to buckle her seatbelt. When it snapped into place, he glanced at his brother.
    “Thanks for taking her home.”
    “No problem,” Richard said. “I’m glad to do it.”
    Ash straightened and put his hand on the door but seemed to think better of it. Bending down again, he put his hand at the back of Lainey’s neck, pulled her to him, and pressed his lips to hers. There was urgency in the feel of his mouth on hers, and then the contact was broken. He touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes.
    “You know I love you, don’t you?” he whispered.
    “Y-yes,” she stammered.
    “Don’t ever doubt that,” he said as he stepped back and closed the door.
    Lainey swiveled in her seat and watched him stand in front of the restaurant as Richard pulled the car into the street. An overwhelming feeling of loss rose up from the depth of her soul.
    In that instant she knew her life was about to take an unexpected detour. Ash’s lips on hers had felt too much like a goodbye kiss.
     

Chapter 10
    Ash glanced at his watch as he opened the front door of his home. Two a.m. He hadn’t intended to stay out so late with Reese and Colt, but he’d let the time get away from him. It was too late to go by Lainey’s. She’d probably been in bed for hours. He’d have to explain everything to her in the morning, and there was a lot for them to talk about. He only hoped he could make her understand what he’d done.
    For now he hoped he could make it up to his room without waking his father or Richard. That thought went up in smoke when he started up the stairs and heard his father call out.
    “Ash, is that you?”
    He released the breath he’d been holding and gripped the bannister. “I thought you’d be in bed.”
    “Can’t sleep tonight. I want to talk to you.”
    With a sigh Ash released